UK Slaughter Statistics

UK Slaughter Statistics - 23 August 2013

UK prime cattle slaughterings for July 2013 were 173,000 head and beef and veal production was 76,000 tonnes.

Key points

This release shows the latest monthly information on the slaughtering of cattle, sheep and pigs. It also includes dressed carcase weight and meat production information. The key results for July 2013 are given below:

Cattle: UK prime cattle slaughterings were 3.1 per cent lower than in July 2012 at 173 thousand head. Beef and veal production was 76 thousand tonnes, 7.6 per cent lower than in July 2012.

Sheep: UK clean sheep slaughterings were 2.0 per cent higher than in July 2012 at 1172 thousand head. Mutton and lamb production was 26 thousand tonnes, 0.6 per cent higher than in July 2012.

Pigs: UK clean pig slaughterings were 0.7 per cent higher than in July 2012 at 964 thousand head. Pigmeat production was 79 thousand tonnes, 1.6 per cent higher than in July 2012.

Monthly numbers of livestock slaughtered

Table 1 shows monthly estimates of the number of cattle, sheep and pigs slaughtered for meat for human consumption in the United Kingdom. The survey is run according to statistical, rather than calendar months, the number of weeks in the statistical month is specified below.

Average dressed carcase weights

Table 2 shows the monthly average dressed carcase weight of livestock slaughtered for meat for human consumption in the United Kingdom.

Monthly volumes of meat production

Table 3 shows the monthly volumes of meat produced in the United Kingdom. Data is shown according to statistical, rather than calendar months, number of weeks in statistical month as specified.

Average weekly numbers of livestock slaughtered

Table 4 shows the average weekly slaughter figures for the last thirteen months. The monthly slaughter figures in section one are affected by the number of weeks in the statistical month. To get a clearer measure of trends weekly averages are calculated by dividing the number of livestock slaughtered each month by the number of weeks in the statistical month.

Longer term trends can be seen in Figures 4:1, 4:2 and 4:3, following this table.